righteous one who has been a transgressor. justifies the ungodly, or remits sins that are past.

But then it must be observed,

In this sense God

III. The justified person does not retain his ungodly temper-his evil heart of enmity and unbelief; for, the apostle says, " He believes on God." "He is justified by faith." His faith is im-puted for righteousness. The prophet says, "The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and to them who turn from ungodliness in Jacob."

The faith which justifies, respects God, not merely as the Supreme Ruler and righteous Judge of the world; but especially as a God of mercy, who pardons the guilty and justifies the ungodly. Viewing him only in the former character, the conscious sinner would sink into despondence. It is by faith in him, in the latter character, as a God gracious and merciful, forgiving iniquities, transgressions and sins, that we are encouraged to draw near to him, and excited to obey him. "He who cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him." It is the goodness of God which leads us to repentance. It is by the mercy of God that we are persuaded to present ourselves to him. It is by hope that we draw near to him, and by hope that we are saved.

As God exercises his forgiving mercy to sinners through the righteousness of Christ, so faith in God, as justifying the ungodly, includes faith in Christ, through whose righteousness the ungodly are justified. Faith ultimately respects God, the Almighty Parent, of whom are all things; but it immediately respects Christ the Mediator, by whom we draw near to God, and obtain acceptance with him. "We are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and by him we believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might be in God." Hence faith in God, and faith in Christ are promiscuously used in the gospel, and alike made the term of our acceptance. Christ says to his disciples, "Ye believe in God; believe also in me."

This faith supposes a conviction of sin; it is accompanied with a godly sorrow for sin; and it produces works of righteousness. No man will apply to God, as justifying the ungodly, until he is

convinced of his own ungodliness. Nor will he come to God in the name of a Mediator, until he sees himself unworthy to come in his own. This conviction of sin and humiliation for it, will operate to resolutions of new obedience. The faith, then, which justifies us in the sight of God, includes in it repentance of sina new creature-a turning from ungodliness-a submission of the soul to the gospel of Christ. Accordingly, faith, repentance, regeneration, conversion, and even works themselves, are made the terms of our justification and acceptance. This is the language of the gospel, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be saved."-" Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.'" God hath saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he hath shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”"In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature-faith which works by love, and keeping the commandments of God."-" Faith purifieth the heart, and is made perfect by works."—" By works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

It hence appears, that the faith, which is the term of our justification, is not a simple assent to the truth of the gospel; or an inactive recumbence on the mercy of God; or a bold confidence in the atonement of Christ; but it is such a full consent of the heart to the gospel plan of salvation, as produces an actual com-. pliance with it. Faith is not a mere speculative opinion, but a practical principle. It is not presumptuous, but humble. It is not indolent, but operative. It is not unprofitable, but full of good fruits. This faith God accepts as the condition of our forgiveness. Hence it is said to be imputed for righteousness.

By the tenor of the law, no man is reputed righteous, but he, who continues in all things written therein to do them. By the tenor of the gospel, he, for Christ's sake, is reputed righteous, who believes in God as justifying the ungodly, and, thus believing, repents of his transgression, and devotes himself to newness of life. It is not perfection, but sincerity-not a sinless compli

ance with the law, but a penitent and unreserved dedication of ourselves to God, which is the condition of our acceptance with him. Sins past are forgiven on repentance; and new obedience, proceeding from an honest and good heart, is accepted, even though imperfections attend it. "The free gift is of many of fences unto justification." Though on repentance there is the actual remission of sins only which are past, yet there is the gracious promise, that all future sins, on the renewed exercise of repentance, may also be forgiven; and that in answer to the humble prayers of the believer, such support shall be granted him as will preserve him from final apostacy. Whom God justifies, them he also glorifies. They are kept by his power, through faith, unto salvation.

Between the law and the gospel there is then a great difference in several respects.

1. The law condemns sinners, without giving them any hope of pardon; the gospel provides for the forgiveness of all sins.

2. By the law judgment comes on all men for one offence; by the gospel the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 3. The law accepts of no obedience short of perfection: the gospel accepts of sincerity.

4. The law leaves the subject to his own strength: the gospel offers grace to help in time of need.

We may observe, once more,

IV. That the gospel scheme of salvation is wholly of grace. As to him who worketh the reward is reckoned, not according to grace, but debt; so to him who believeth in God as justifying the ungodly, salvation comes, not in a way of debt, but grace. grace we are saved through faith, not of ourselves, but by the gift of God."

"By

Grace, in our text, is opposed, not merely to merit, but to debt, or to that which is due in virtue of the promise made to sinless obedience. As opposed to merit, the reward promised to Adam was of grace; for what could he have done to deserve so favorable a constitution as that under which he was placed? Even the highest angel cannot be said to merit any positive happiness-much less the eternal continuance of that glorious state,

which he enjoys. As he is God's creature, no wrong, or injury would be done him, if a period were put to his existence. His happiness is the free gift of God's bounty-not the meritorious purchase of his own services. When, therefore, the apostle says, "To him who worketh, the reward is reckoned of debt," he cannot mean the merit of a reward, properly so called; but that right to it, which is conveyed by God's promise to perfect obedience.

To this debt he opposes grace, by which he evidently means benefits bestowed on guilty creatures already under the condemnation of God's law. The blessings which God grants to innocent beings, flow from his bounty and goodness: Those which he vouchsafes to sinful creatures, proceed from his mercy and grace. In this sense the word, grace, is used by this apostle, in our text and many other places.

The gospel supposes mankind to be sinners. It provides for their recovery in a way which excludes boasting. It discovers to them a great salvation, which it represents as the purchase of a Redeemer, and the gift of God through him. This salvation it offers to the penitent and humble believer, and promises him acceptance with God, as if he had not offended. It invites sinners to the throne of grace, that they may there receive the assistance of the Holy Spirit, both to the exercise of repentance, and to the performance of all the duties of a godly life. The reward which it promises, is not only beyond what innocence could claim, but also far superior to that which the bounty of God promised to the obedience of Adam. “Christ came, that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly." The free gift through him has abounded to many. They who believe have received abundance of grace in the forgiveness of all their sins; and they will receive still more abundant grace, when they shall reign in life through Jesus Christ.

REFLECTIONS.

1. The mighty and wonderful preparation which God has made for our recovery from the ruins of the apostacy, may lead us to suppose, that the human race is of great importance in the scale of rational beings, and in the scheme of God's universal government. Though in ourselves we are unworthy of God's notice, yet he has done much for us-far more

than we could have asked, or even now can think. He must, then, have some great design to accomplish by us. In us his glory will, by some means or other, be wonderfully displayed.

2. Our compliance with the terms of the gospel appears to be a matter of vast importance. So wonderful a dispensation of grace cannot be rejected without awful guilt and danger.

A salvation procured in the manner which the gospel discovers, must be a great salvation-greater than we can imagine. And proportionably great will be the guilt and punishment of those who neglect and despise it. If without the grace revealed, our state would have been hopeless and wretched, how dreadful will be their doom, to whom it is offered in vain? "He who despised Moses's law died without mercy; Of how much sorer punishment will they be thought worthy, who tread under foot the Son of God, profane the blood of the covenant, and do despite to the Spirit of grace?"

3. It is a great matter really to comply with the gospel.

As it is a plan contrived by Divine wisdom for the redemption of guilty creatures, so we must see that we are sinners-must condemn ourselves as such-must be sensible of our desert of punishment—must renounce sin with purpose of heart-must commit ourselves to the hands of divine mercy-must seek pardon in the name of the Saviour, and accept it as a free gift from him—and must hope for eternal life, not because we deserve it, but because the Saviour who died for us, has purchased it, and God, who cannot lie, has promised it.

4. Humility becomes the most improved saints. For by the grace of God they are what they are. It is not owing to their own works, but to God's sovereign grace, that they are brought into a state of salvation, and made heirs of the heavenly inheritance. They were once guilty, polluted and condemned: But they are washed, justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of God. By the mercies of God let them be excited to every good work; and, when they have done all, let them remember, that they are unprofitable servants; and let them glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.